Culture
A children's book about the benefits of low-calorie nutrition and exercise caused a sharp negative reaction from British doctors and psychologists.
The cover of Paul Kramer's book Maggie Goes on A Diet depicts a chubby girl standing in front of a mirror holding a little girl size. The main character of the book, 14-year-old Maggie, is overweight. However, the girl decides to fight this trouble. She goes on a diet, starts training, loses those extra pounds and becomes the star of her high school soccer team. The book tells how, thanks to diet and hard training, a girl becomes slim and more self-confident.
The book has not yet been published, but has already caused a storm of indignation among experts. Experts who study eating disorders believe that such books should be intended for parents, not children. Children must follow a diet under the supervision of doctors and parents, and they must receive adequate nutrition for proper development.
Such books can trigger eating disorders, such as anorexia, experts say.
However, the problem of overweight children in the UK remains relevant. In the UK, three out of ten children are overweight.